You know that feeling... ?

Random Quote: "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues."  ~Brother Lawrence

   

   I think I have always had hope, even when the rope was running out. I know I'm still working on my faith. It's a day to day process, but I feel it building inside of me, especially when I see the blessings the Lord shares with me. 

   However, if there's one thing I know about it's love. No matter what kind of day I am having I know that I am loved. My family, my friends, and my coworkers who have become my dearest friends, and my students are all a part of that daily knowledge. They are a great support to me, and make me laugh and smile. I know that when I ask someone to send prayers or positive thoughts my way, they are on it. That's a good feeling to have. To know that you have people who will be there for you even when they are having rough days as well. 

   Although I would love to share more in-depth memories and testimonies of how friends have been there for me and shown me that they care, I actually have another love coming to mind. That's the love of my nieces and nephews. 

   Even as I write this, my youngest niece is leaning against my arm and snoring slightly. We just had a long day that included me painting her nails and toenails and working through our "school" papers. For me, that's the truth, and for her, it's some papers I wasn't going to use and I shared them with her. I was well-fed as I worked. She presented me with some McDonald's fries as well as a lovely, plastic t-bone. Yum! Cakes knows how to treat her aunt right! Lol.

More importantly is the love she shows me when she rushes to see me after I get home from work; the cheese she loves to share with me as our special "after-school snack"; the piano we play together, and the painting of nails (she takes that after her sister). It's the small things that build this HUGE picture of how much we are loved and appreciated. 

   Thinking back, I recall her older sisters and brother and when I used to watch them. The oldest of which is now 16. Time flies WAY TOO FAST!! However, I remember every picture that was drawn for me and even have some hanging up in my room still. 

   I love those pictures more than anything. I love those moments we have shared like: me watching them when there were only dirty diapers and screaming involved (Courtney had the cutest face when she cried), walking Breanna up and down singing and patting her back until she fell asleep because she hated sleeping, Dartangan had a set of lungs like you wouldn't believe, watching them grow and drawing pictures, making picture frames and t-shirts, shopping together at the mall, playing in the play area at the mall and riding the merry-go-round, hanging out at holidays and eating way too much, grabbing snacks at the store, watching television and movies while laughing up a storm, making cookies together, running in the sprinklers, playing rummy and poker (Dartangan taught me the second and I beat him at the first, lol), Breanna trying out her awesome nail designing skills and hair styles, plucking weeds in the garden (Christian was a good helper), seeing some of the best movies ever, and of course, cheese sharing and reading with Cakes. 

   Seriously, when it comes to my nieces and nephews, I feel the love. They are so much fun and an enjoyable mixture of hilarious and outrageous. I love them more than anything, and I know they love me. Their innocent and sweet love is so precious. They are my adopted children, and I would do anything for them. I think they know that by now, but if they do not, I'm about to publish it live. 

   If you have nieces and nephews, you know what I mean. Obviously, they have awesome aunts and/or uncles, lol. Keep spending time with them and let them know how much you love them! 

I will finish this lovely blog with some pictures of my loving and sassy kiddos:

   Aren't they adorable? I LOVE them SO much!!!

   Do you have stories about your nieces and nephews? 

Please feel free to share!   

~Love and Hugs!! :)

Dreams...

Random Quote: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." ~Walt Disney

  

  I saw this random quote and I knew I had to share it. 

  Recently, I've been dreaming again. My life has been like a Robert Frost poem, and the road that diverged has come upon me once again. 

   Decisions, decisions, decisions. 

   You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach? The one that says: "You need to follow your dream before your curl up into a ball of sadness and perish?" Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but you get what I'm saying right?

   We all have dreams. Your dream might be to make it big as the next band or land on the moon or get your Doctorate in Medicine or just make it through school. No matter what, you really should keep going and make your dream happen. Please don't let the small stuff get in your way and keep you from what you're meant to do.

    When I was little, I had a love for all things dramatic. I used to dress up in my best dresses and outfits, like most little girls, and find those too-large-red-shoes in the closet. I'd slip those heels onto my feet and feel like I was ready for Broadway. Then I'd walk into the kitchen with all the importance of a well-known Diva, and I'd start to sing and tap-dance like I was a star. 

   Of course, there were a few interesting tidbits about my performance that most of my family members failed to share with me out of the goodness of their hearts, lol. Those tiny details have continued to shape me throughout my short lively-hood here on Earth. Some of those details might have been: that I couldn't sing if my life depended on it or that, to be able to tap-dance well, I actually needed to know how to tap dance. Ginger Rogers, I was not. It would have been delightful to know those things as a child so that I wouldn't get my hopes up about becoming a famous dancer. Or singer. Or anything that had to do with musical ability and balance. We all live and learn though, right? 

   However, never underestimate the power of the go-getter. 

   So, beyond the kitchen scene where I tapped my heart out, I also had dramatic entrances preformed by my brother. These usually went along the lines of him saying something like, "Presenting Miss Piggy" and all sorts of nonsense that I think would be better left unrevealed. The one I mentioned is humiliation enough. Obviously, I was working on all attempts to be a part of the stage and take my famous theatrics beyond the playing field of my home turf. I could tell you stories... Well, I am technically, but I mean there are more, you just don't need to hear about them. Needless to say, I had imagination and humor even at the ages of four, five, and six. I think they stopped working at about seven. I'm sure you can guess why.

   Scroll forward several years through the part of my life known as "nightmare land (okay, maybe not that bad, but seriously, I'm talking teenage years, middle school, bad hair cuts, pants that didn't fit right, the works)", and you would find a happy becky greeting the world of higher education. 

   At last, my ship had come in and I was ready for it. I was going to take college by storm and reinvent myself. This was where my life started to mean something, and I'd finally understand what that was. Now, I could become all the things that I had dreamed about for years. I could really learn to be me. 

   Here I am. Ready for the entrance into what my life would be from that day forward. I held my breath. I picked my classes. I took their tests. I studied hard. I walked right into... something completely different. Obviously, my younger self knew nothing. Ya wanna know why? Because after all of my passion and flair for the dramatic and all that occurred in the years following my Kitchen Debut, I ended up deciding at the age of seven to become a-- Wait! Are you ready for it? Do you think you can really handle this? Should you keep reading? ...

   Okay. Keep reading.

   Did I become a famous tap-dancer? Nooo...
   Did I become a dancer of any profession? Nooo...
   Did I become a singer? Nooo...
   A song-writer? Nooo...
   An actress? Nooo...
   A theater connoisseur? Nooo...

   No, but if you guessed teacher, then: "Ding! Ding! Ding! You got it right!"

   Yeah, where did that come from? 

   Well, I was a young, naive seven-year-old. Truth be told, I knew I couldn't sing and that I had no balance. No one really had to tell me those things. What's sad though, is I let myself believe that no matter what I really wanted to do, I just wasn't good enough. And I hid behind it. I may not want to be famous or a dancer or a singer anymore (Let me just say that this isn't true. I still want to be a dancer and a singer. Just setting the record straight on those facts.) or an actress or have anything to do with theater (May I remind you that when I get in front of crowds I don't do well? At all.), but that doesn't mean that I don't still dream. Have hopes. Wish that I could carry a tune. However, I didn't stop and just breathe. I let my fear and circumstances dictate where I was to go.    

   It's way easier to do what's expected than to do what's in your heart. You can totally make excuses, find the safe route, do what you think is right, and then you realize, "What did I do?" Only then, it's too late. You can't undo the decisions made. You can't go back and fix what's broken. Life doesn't work that way. It is, what it is. 

   Don't get me wrong. I came up with new dreams. At the age of seven all my childhood dreaming became something new. I wanted to become a teacher to change the world. I thought it was the best option for me. This was something I dreamed of when the realization that singing may cause deafness came to my knowledge. My stuffed animals were great cheerleaders for this career change. They loved read-aloud time and hearing about other countries from the Encyclopedias. My bears were always partial to my Nancy Drew mysteries, and they sincerely hoped I would become a detective as well. They liked my accents and plot ideas. My bunny was of the opinion that I should never become a detective. I think she knew I suspected she was the one taking extra apple slices from the fridge. *Shrug*

   However, that time with my chalkboard, books, and stuffed friends made me realize how much I loved sharing with others. My mind started to paint a picture of me teaching in a room filled with others who wanted to learn as much as I loved to learn, to share. So, I decided to become a teacher.     

   Still, my heart dreams. This time it dreams in letters, words.

   When I was twelve, it dawned on me that all the books I read were openings into another world. No matter how I felt any given day, those books provided an outlet, an escape, a peace. For me, that was priceless. Those were the worlds on which I could depend. They were my freedom from the hard days or even just a way to exercise my imagination. Picturing yourself as a world famous detective, the bell of the ball, a classic ballerina, a rock star, a heroine or anything else is exhilarating. It's freeing in a way no one can understand unless they share the same kind of book love. These were the dreams that I built my life upon. There is such a thing as reality though. I knew I was none of those things. I also knew that a book couldn't change that fact or make me into a dream. Sometimes, what you let yourself believe you truly are gets stuck in your head in ways that you will never quite forget. 

   I wasn't what I thought I should be, so I became what I thought I could be. Making decisions is hard. Decisions can change the course of your life in ways you'd never begin to imagine. My life ended up going in the direction I wanted it to go. It became my dream and my reality. I listened to my bears, lol, and it led me to this moment in time. I am grateful for it and sincerely enjoy it. This seven-year-old's dream came true. I just sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd listened to the six-year-old's dream or the twelve-year-old's dream or even the twenty-year-old's dream? 

   Dreams don't die. Sometimes it will take you a very long time to make them happen, but when you do, it makes them that much sweeter. My heart dreams in words. I can paint the picture of a story inside my head. I love to make up my own plots of all sorts. Random stories. Random anything is really awesome, lol. So, now I have a new story to share. I have new words to speak. They may not be perfect. They may not be what someone, somewhere think they should be. You know what? WHO CARES?! It's my dream. I'm making it happen. I'm stepping out of my box and realizing that there are no boundaries on dreams. At least, there shouldn't be. 

   I'm giving fear up. Everyone has a story to share. This is part of mine: I am an author, a writer, a person who loves to put my imagination on paper. 

   So, here I am. A real published author. If you hadn't realized that fact yet: SURPRISE! It feels amazing. Awesome. One of a kind. I can't tell you how excited and thrilled that I truly am, and I want to share that feeling with all of you! :)

   If interested, my first book ever is now on Amazon.com eBooks, and you can find it by typing in Rebecca Reddell or Random Poetry  OR you can check out this link right here: http://www.amazon.com/Random-Poetry-ebook/dp/B00F7QMET2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379870956&sr=8-1&keywords=rebecca+reddell

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! I am SO SUPER EXCITED!!!

   I hope you will preview and purchase Random Poetry! I hope you will love the eclectic poetry I have assembled and will also love to share it with others. Please feel free to post or message me your thoughts. You can also check out my Author Page on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/rebeccareddell.randominspirations

   I hope you love my random thoughts and sharing as much as I love sharing them. Feel free to let me know what your dreams are and what road you're taking to get to them. :)

  And remember, never give up on your dreams. You can do it, and I'm here to cheer you on!

~Love and Hugs!! :)

   

   

    

Listening to My Life...

Random Quote: "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." ~Victor Hugo

I know you hear me when I say that music says everything. 

As a book fanatic I often find that music inspires me to write, but it also can inspire me to look at a character under the form of lyrics. You know those songs you sometimes hear on the radio and think, "This reminds me of someone!" Well, perhaps it reminds you of a book character who has stolen your heart? 

There are those characters that you totally relate to and even those characters that you come to hate or love. They all have this certain magic about them; that if you could carry them with you always, you would. When their story ends it's as if the whole world has stopped. Yet, throughout the whole story you know you aren't just reading a story, you're reading parts of yourself strewn throughout the pages. You're finding the pieces that you thought you lost, and you're reliving who you wish you were or the person you thought you could never be. It's the song of your life wrapped between the soft, crisp pages of a book that someone else wrote. 
How weird is that? Because during that time, you aren't thinking about the author. During that time, you are thinking about the characters and how they get inside your head and take on a voice of their own. Sometimes, it's your voice you hear coming out of the mouth of a nonexistent being, and yet, that being is real because it is the concept of another human being. 
That's why books are so powerful. They take the message that's inside of us and expand it until you see all the parts: the hopes, the dreams, the fears, the insecurities, the rights, the wrongs, the stupidity, the laugh out loud moments, and the realization that you are more than a character on the page of someone else's book. 

It gets me every time. 

I see myself as more than what other's define me as. I see my story through eyes that no one else has and no one else can have. I see that if I am to be as brave as the characters I connect with and admire, then I have to step off the pages of my own book and really be me. 
If that means I write really bad poetry, so be it. If it means that I take lessons on the piano and guitar until I'm 80 and still have no clue what I'm doing, so be it. If it means that I dye a little of my hair blue and love it, so be it. If it means that I have to stop caring what other's think about me, so be it. 
Being my own character means that I get to be who I was created to be. I might as well start now. I think I've wasted enough time as it is. 

So, when I step from the pages of a book and land in the pages of song lyrics, I feel as if I have traded one home for another. The artists behind the words of melodies and beats that get stuck inside your head are just as powerful as the authors of the characters in those books. They are a different kind of you, ya know? 

My music taste is a little on the eclectic side. As my friends can tell you, when I share music with them, it isn't from just one genre. I am a mixed music junkie, but that's just how I roll. I like to switch it up, and like books, there's a little of everything to fit your mood or taste. I like how some songs feel personalized, as if the artist knew exactly what I was thinking and made it into a song to which I can jam. 

If I were to make a Top 10 or even Top 20 Jam List for music to groove to, it would be those songs that have lyrics like characters. The ones that grab hold of my heart and soul and make a permanent impression. Although I see a future blog about my favorite characters and what they would be rocking out to in my head, I think I'll just share with you the musical musts that I personally ascribe to first. After all, those songs that remind me of characters get their start with me anyway. :)

Let's get to it, shall we? 

Top 20 Jams Countdown (#1 being great and #20 being the greatest!)

(Yes, this will be difficult. Thank you for acknowledging that)...

#1: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Really? You thought I would leave out the essential Marvin Gaye? Where oldies are, this is one singer you must always know about. I love his voice and this song is classic. What a spectacular duo. Love it!!

#2: "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

I just really like this song. I grew up listening to old school, lol, and this was on the Hit List. The guitar is amazing and the drum beat is fantastic. It's an essential song for keeping it real. I love "Sweet Home Alabama" for which they are famous and "Call Me the Breeze" and "Free Bird", but this is one of my favorites. You just have to listen to it to get what I mean. Amazing. 

#3: "This Little Light of Mine" by Addison Road

I remember singing that campfire-like song growing up about letting your light shine and not hiding it under a bushel. Here's a song that reminds me of those days and how precious they really were. Sometimes I wish I could go back and start all over again. Make better choices and do the right thing. Possibly learn my lessons a bit quicker. I love how this song takes that message and adds it's own spin. A memorable song that fits any day you're having. 

#4:  "Midnight Rider" by The Allman Brothers Band

I'm not even sure where to start. This 70's Southern Rock band is the best band ever. I know people love to rock out to Jimi Hendricks, Springsteen, Springfield, and others, but as far as I'm concerned: The Allman Brothers have them beat!! It was so hard to even pick one song. Classics such as "Midnight Rider", "The Whipping Post", "Ramblin' Man", "Ain't Wastin' No More Time", and more are simply too phenomenal to leave out of any music list. They essentially started something that is mind-blowing. Having two drummers, the gritty lyrics, the vocals, the guitar solos? Seriously. It is ESSENTIAL to know this band. Get out from under the rock people. 

#5:  "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer

Simply because it takes me back to my childhood and gives me a good laugh. Yeah, I totally blame my sister for this one. Oh, and all those NKOTB memories too. You all know what I'm talking about, and really, can anyone create a playlist that doesn't have this song on it? I think not. At least, not if you grew up in the 80's and 90's and are still suffering as a result, lol. This dude could dance and rap out those lyrics like nobody's business. I love this song and dance to it all the time. No playlist is complete without it. It is essential dance and cheer-me-up music, kinda like "Ice, Ice Baby" lol. "Go with the flow!" Love it!!  

#6: "Stayin' Alive" by BeeGees

You can't even make fun of me for this. Disco lives, people. You need this song on your list no matter what. Don't even play. You know you love it, just like you should. It's the song John Travolta danced to in Saturday Night Fever. You loved that too, don't lie. 

#7: "Here With Me" by Dido

I think I lived the last year of high school with this song on repeat. Or maybe it was the last two years? It's soulful, beautiful, and achingly sweet. This song echoes the remembrance of first love and the desire to make it last forever. 

#8: "It Happens" by Sugarland

Yes, yes, it does. Everything seems to happen and when you least expect it. I like how Jennifer Nettles adds that touch of sarcasm and her easy-going twang to this song. It's so true on so many levels that it isn't even funny. What a great reminder to get over the small stuff. "Life might not go quite like you planned it", but remember that nothing ever does. Something better might be around the corner. So, just live your life and remember: "It Happens".

#9: "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North

A song that reminds me to keep going and never give up. It also reminds me that all I need and can find will be found in the Lord. The bad day can always be worse. However, He's always holding me. When I need a Jesus hug, I listen to this song.  

#10: "Undo" by Rush of Fools

Basically, this song says it all. It puts into words all those things I think and sometimes can't say. When I'm most lost, I listen to this song and remember why I'm holding on. I LOVE it!! 

#11: "Thunder" by Boys Like Girls

I remember the first time I heard this song on the radio. I had to know who the band was. I didn't realize at first that I had already been introduced to them by my brother when "The Great Escape" came out. The line: "Today is a winding road, taking me to places that I didn't want to go..." just hit me. I don't know what it hit me with exactly, but I know it captured my attention as I drove down the street and headed to my "new" home for that school year. It wasn't necessarily that I was heading down a road that I didn't want to travel. It was more about heading down a road that was new and scary and different all in one. I felt like there was something changing, and I was changing with it. There were the good changes and the not so good changes and the scary changes. So this became the summer song that defined my new road, if you will. I have never been able to give it up since. 

#12: "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz

I just love to dance to this song. It's upbeat and catchy, but not in a been there, done that way. It's on every dance playlist I have because this is my dance character ready to hit the floor and move. It should be on yours too. 

#13: "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever) by The Ready Set

I love this guy's music. The beat gets to me all the time, and I just want to dance. I can't leave this song off. It was my summer jam. Gotta listen to it!

#14: "Ancient Words" by Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith's Worship Cd's always touch my heart and bring an overwhelming ministry to my life. When I hear this song, it never fails to bring a spark of tears to my eyes. I feel the music all the way to my bones and in my soul. If you want a pick-me-up or a spiritual uplift, this is the song to do it for you. I don't know what I would do without Tomlin's and Smith's absolutely purifying music. They do praise right. 

#15: "My Paper Heart" by All-American Rejects

I think I wore out this CD when it first came out. This song and all the others played on my CD player over and over and over again. For some reason, at that time especially, these songs just fit everything I was thinking and feeling at the time. Being the typical girl, I was so in love with someone for the longest time and this song seemed to be my anthem. Of course, it didn't work out and that was for the best, but I still love this song and hope for better dreams to come my way.

#16:  "Just Keep Breathing" by We the Kings

Listening to this song is like a breath of fresh air. Reminding myself to let things go is an ongoing battle. It's nice to have it in song format, lol. I love the way the band puts this musical piece together because it hits home and it is so relevant and incredibly real. I love the beauty and simple reality of the lyrics. The lead singer is both understanding and contemplative. I love it. 

#17 "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

The name of this song should tell you everything you need to know about why it's in my Top 20. If you can't figure it out, then I am very sad for you. 

#18: "Glory in the Highest" by Chris Tomlin

This may very well be the song that saved my life. During some dark days, I played this song on repeat. The lyrics, Tomlin's vocals, and the chorus are so beautiful and holy. It's a song that gets stuck in your heart and mind, drives away the evil, and keeps you moving forward. The build is amazingly breathtaking. I cannot listen to this song enough. It fills my spirit up. I could never have a song list without this being on it and in the top twenty. Magnificent. 

#19: "Let It Go" by Michael Franti & Spearhead (featuring Ethan Tucker)

I smile when I hear this song. It's one of those songs that you bob your head to and your hips start to sway, and you just sink into the song. When life sucks listen to this song and just "Let It Go"! 

#20: "What the Hell" by Avril Lavigne

Classic Avril, the lyrics to this song feel appropriate on those hard days in life. You sometimes just want to throw your hands up in the air and shout, "What the hell?" at the top of your lungs. I'm not saying it's right; it just is. Listening to this song gives me my rebel outlet. Everybody needs one. This is mine. Some days I wonder if Avril is my alternate ego. Anything's possible in a book or in the world of music. When I listen to this song, I am definitely seeing a bigger than life character ready to take on the world. 

What?!?! The Top 20 is finished already??? BUT I haven't even gotten started!!! I didn't include Jack's Mannequin's "Dark Blue" or Fall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up) or "Just a Dream" by Nelly or "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees or "Tonight is the Night" by Outasight or "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line or "Love Story" by Taylor Swift or any of the millions of other songs locked on my playlists and ready for me to jump into character. 

However, I think you get the point. Eclectic music mixes offer a lot of spontaneity and the ability to develop characters for your written word or even just for yourself. Life is random. Your books, television likes, Facebook profiles, movie loves, and music fandom will be different too. Mix it up. Try new things. Fall in love with life. When you listen to music you are listening to pieces of yourself. Just as when you read a book, you are reading about the pieces of yourself. Weirdly, it all fits together in the conglomeration that is you, and THAT is really cool. Be you. Always be you. 

Thanks for listening to my life. :)

So now that I've introduced you to my eclectic music lifestyle, what do you listen to? What makes you happy? What touches your heart? What makes you want to dance forever? What are the musical pieces of your character? 

~Love and Hugs!!

Stop, and Smell the Books

Random Quote: "Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

~ Unknown 

   I can't seem to recall the first time I picked up a book and grasped it in my hands as though it was a lifeline. It feels as if I've always loved books and carried them with me since day one of life on Earth. 

   

   However, I do remember some of the books that introduced me to the world of reading: Dr. Seuss's ABC book,  encyclopedias, dictionaries, The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg, all the "Golden Books" possible and more! As I grew, I had a fondness for Nancy Drew, The Baby-Sitter's Club, Sweet Valley Twins, The Boxcar Children, The Saddle Club, Mandie and Trixie Beldon Mysteries. I liked them so much because I liked to figure out whodunit. The mystery held more allure than anything and when the characters put on a detective hat and tried to figure out the bad guy, I was there with my pencil, paper, and clue kit. I tried to find out who the criminal was before the story revealed him or her. Ahh, those were my detective days. I would have loved becoming a real one, except-- you know, all the other things that would be involved with it. I'm not big on real blood or being hit on the head a million times like Nancy. Seriously, shouldn't she have a SERIOUS concussion by now or just be in a coma??

   My love of books didn't end there. After finding the classics, I couldn't put down The Call of the Wild, Oliver Twist, Anne of Green Gables, and Great Expectations. My love affair with books didn't end there. Nope. It grew. I could go on and on about all the great books I have read and loved and reread and dreamed about, but I'm only going to share with you my Top 20. Of course, I can't really have JUST twenty favorites. That's sacrilege right there, but they are twenty I couldn't live without (besides my Scriptures, of course). You may find that you like some of the same and for similar reasons. Or you may think, Becky, I totally disagree. Either way, I welcome you to read and enjoy and comment as needed. 

Becky's TOP 20 Books (#1 being great and #20 being the greatest!):

#1:  The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

An adorable book with an interesting old man. This book is a lesson in patience and perseverance. Both mine, and the old man's, lol. I love it though because of its simplicity and beauty of character.

#2:  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

What a wonderful book that really hits the mark of honesty when we look through eyes colored with prejudice. I love the characters of Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Boo Radley. I like the love and acceptance shown through the eyes of children. What a powerful story that never lacks originality.  

#3: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

An extraordinary look at women from another culture who share their thoughts, secrets, and food together. These women show such a great strength of character, and the knowledge the daughter gains about her mother is priceless. Just love their interactions and the connections made through the generations.  

#4: Rebecca of Sunnybrooke Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

I really didn't choose this one because my name is in it, lol. This is an old child-hood favorite that made me smile and also reminded me a bit of another favorite, Anne of Green Gables. Who doesn't love precocious youngsters who help open the eyes of others?

#5: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

The reality of what Annemarie and Ellen go through in one of our history's most horrendous time periods is captured so well in this story by Lois Lowry. This is a story that warms my heart at the friendship shown, but also makes me cry. 

#6: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

In 1832, Charlotte Doyle boards the Seahawk for an Atlantic crossing to catch up with her family. The trip turns mutinous and more than a little scary when she ends up accused of murder and caught between the captain and the crew. This is such a great book that I cannot even tell you how enthralled you will become when the story unfolds and the character of Charlotte goes from naive to bold and brave. I like how tragedy doesn't get the better of this character and she is able to rise above it and become stronger as a result. 

#7: The Call of the Wild/White Fang by Jack London

Okay, this may be cheating because they have the two books in one, but seriously, Jack  London creates superb stories about loyal and courageous dogs that overcome evil and  harsh obstacles. Who doesn't like that? Yeah, that's right, crazy people. 

       

#8: The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain

Some love Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I say kudos to those books, but protest that The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg is the Twain book to read. I can't even begin to tell you what it's about, except that you have to read this short story to appreciate the true genius of Twain. LOVE IT!!

#9: The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins

When I first heard about this book, I didn't want to read it. I was appalled by the plot premise: kids killing each other to survive? No, thank you. A friend talked me into giving it a try. She said the characters were worth reading about and that it's a great story about change and taking the higher road. I took her at her word and read it. I found that she was right. This book starts with a topic that is scary and sad and unbelievable. Isn't that how history has often started throughout the world? However, even though it gets worse before it gets better, these are certainly characters worth rooting for. Just don't get distracted by the hot heroes being played on the movie version. It totally ruins the perspective, lol. 

#10: The Infernal Devices (series) by Cassandra Clare

What can I say? I love this three-part series tremendously. The characters become your best friends. You laugh. You cry. You cry some more. You get to book 3, and it's an all-out-sob-fest. No joke. However, it's a series you will return to over and over again. If you're interested in The Mortal Instruments then you should read this series which started it all. 

#11: A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

I love all of his books. Let's just face it: they're ALWAYS better than the movies. You have to hand it to Sparks, he knows what he's doing. I love the simplicity of this story, the beauty of true love, and the loyalty that love inspires. Everyone wants a love like this. It's a book that will make you laugh and cry, but will hold a special place in your heart for all time. 

#12: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

Best story of the Lord of the Rings series. Bilbo started it all in this prelude. I love the dwarves, the adventure, and the sense of friendship that develops through the course of the story. I love the evolution of Bilbo's character and the bravery he finds within himself, even if it's with the help of the ring. The part where he exchanges riddles with Gollum is one of my favorite parts. Well, that, and whenever singing and elves are involved. Let's just face it, this book rocks. 

#13: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Yes, Austen is classic. You can't do without having at least one of her books on your shelf. Although I love all of them, Persuasion is my personal favorite. I love the unending-love and forgiveness that comes with true love. 

#14: The Orient Express by Agatha Christie

You recall when I mentioned that I love mysteries about a hundred pages ago? Well, this is one of the best Christie books/mysteries ever. It had me confused up until the last page, I am sorry to say. She is the master of the genre, and I love Poirot. He, and his little grey cells, makes me smile. He never ceases to amaze me as he pieces the puzzle together. Priceless. Just read them all.  

#15: Nevermore (series) by Kelly Creagh 

An interesting novel that takes Poe's poems and life to a whole new level in this YA three part series. Poe is the inspiration of Varen, a teenage goth loner. Unfortunately, his obsession takes him to another world that only wants to destroy him. Yep, it's a fantasy story with a blend of romance and is creepy and addicting all in one.  

#16: God's Strange Act: The Destiny of Ephraim and the Restoration of the House of Israel by Douglas Hatten and Joel Adams

In my opinion, this book is awesome. I love the history lesson it provides and the spiritual lessons it teaches about the history of our ancestors. I can't even explain the wonderful knowledge and inspiration it provides. Dig deep with this resource and you won't regret it! 

#17: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

This story of the Reign of Terror is magnificent in its realistic quality and enigmatic main characters. The courageousness of the few is a story worth telling every time, and Baroness Orczy does a wonderful job. I learned about this read from a friend in high school, and I return to it often. I hope you will give it a try as well. 

#18: Eragon (series) by Christopher Paolini

Farm boy turned dragon rider? Be still, my heart. This is a total win on adventure, creativity, and characters that steal your heart. Although a little overwhelming with information at times and being able to keep up with a plot that reminds my of The Lord of the Rings, this story and its characters are memorable and worth read after read. It's a four part series, and yes, you have to have all four. 

#19: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

This YA novelist first captured my attention with this book. I love her realistic characters, effortless mastery of themes, excellent connections with details, and how amazingly her plot unfolds. Sarah Dessen takes real life and breaks it down through the eyes of her characters. You come to love the characters and how they grow and change. This is an author that takes what is sometimes only an everyday occurrence to one person, and makes it a way of life for another. Owen loves music. It's his obsession. He's an outsider and no one really knows him, but you can see him with his iPod wherever he goes. Annabel notices Owen, but it isn't until she's lost the only friends she knows that she is finally able to get to know the real him. Her introduction to his music and how it has shaped his life leads her to look at her own life in a whole new way. It also helps her share a secret that has been leading her and destroying her life in so many ways. 

#20: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

No one can tell a love story like this. Francine Rivers builds a story of love, betrayal, and heartache from the ashes of sin. Redeeming Love takes us on a journey of a couple who find that sin is great, but God is greater. When I first read this story, I was amazed and shocked. It wasn't like anything I had encountered before. I can truly say that it made me look at life a little bit differently, and hopefully, with a little less judgement. The love this book shares is one of redemption and freedom. Who doesn't want to feel those things?

These are the 20 books that often take my breath away in excitement, happiness, fear, sadness, and love. I cannot even begin to tell you how many lessons I have learned from these books in one shape or form. All I can say is that I hope you will give some of them a try or let me know if you have some of the same favorites as me. So, what do you read?

Stop, and smell the books. I do. They actually smell really great. And it's nice reading them too, lol. 

~Love and Hugs!! :)